Packers Special Teams Coach to Retire

Published 7:00 pm, Wednesday, January 8, 2003

Novak, who turns 65 in May, will finish the final year of his contract, easing the transition for his successor and assisting other members of the staff, Sherman told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Thursday.

"He felt it was time to retire," Sherman said. "He goes out as a Green Bay Packer and as long as I'm here he'll always be able to come back. This is his team."

Novak, the Packers' special teams coach for the last three years, decided that he didn't want to continue in one of the most pressure-filled jobs in the NFL.

"Mike didn't want me to leave but it simply came down to me not wanting to be the lead dog anymore," Novak said. "I'm in great health, I loved what I was doing and I could have continued doing it, but there's other things I want to do with my life."

The Packers' special teams were perceived as being worse than they were this season. Other than poor return units, the Packers had effective cover teams, kicked well, punted well and finished plus-1 in turnover differential. In three seasons, Novak's units were plus-7.

"The only negative on special teams was I didn't get a return guy that could get the ball up field," Sherman said. "We weren't great on our return units blocking-wise. I thought we improved during the season. Our coverage units definitely improved dramatically."

Sherman will start interviewing candidates next week at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala.